Joy in work: a multidisciplinary quality improvement project designed to improve staff well-being in an inner-city children's hospital
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Authors
Morrissey, B
Bensted, Roland
Gopal, G. P.
John, Yvonne J.
Thaci, Eneida
Bryant, Victoria
Begum, Saidunnisa
Hume, Amelia
Cowen, O.
Vaidya, Mamta
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Issue Date
12/08/2025
Type
Journal article
Language
Keywords
Mental Health
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Abstract
Summary
A staff-led, multidisciplinary quality improvement project addressing workplace well-being in a large inner-city children’s hospital.
The problem
Many health workers report low workplace well-being, which negatively impacts their health and well-being, and patient care. Staff well-being is an important contributor to high-quality patient care.1 2 Organisations with engaged, happy staff have better patient outcomes, safety, satisfaction, reduced costs, lower sickness rates and higher staff retention.3
Working with children and families is rewarding but challenging. It offers the chance to make a real difference while working in multidisciplinary teams.4 5 Health workers in paediatrics face growing pressures, including resource constraints, workforce shortages and increasing patient complexity.6 These challenges impact well-being, particularly for frontline staff and those in resource-limited settings, leading to burnout and feelings of being overwhelmed.7
In the 2023 National Health Service (NHS) survey, 41.7% felt unwell from work-related stress, and 30.4% experienced burnout.8 Additionally, 45% of nurses in the UK were considering leaving their jobs, with 70% reporting this was due to feeling undervalued.9 Poor staff well-being costs the NHS an estimated £12.1 billion annually.10
There is an urgent need to prioritise the well-being of health workers. The NHS people plan emphasises the importance of a compassionate, inclusive culture that values and retains staff.11
Despite the scale of the issue, evidence on effective solutions in complex healthcare settings is limited. Most existing initiatives focus on small-scale interventions with a relatively narrow focus.12 There is a need for system-wide approaches that involve all levels of staff.3 13
We share our experience using a quality improvement approach with action research to improve staff well-being in a large children’s hospital.
Description
Citation
Archives of Disease in Childhood - Education and Practice Published Online First: 12 August 2025. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2025-328514
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Journal
Archives of Disease in Childhood Education & Practice